re: When building a house

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Only if it was a cost plus build…otherwise, not my problem.

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Most of the contracts would have a draw at about 60% completion. Builders ain't dumb...they going to front load that draw to cover costs because cash is king. They also ain't likely to start with the extra expenses until after that draw...because they pretty much got you by the short hairs. If you do find a builder who does not have a draw at 60% you have another issue...you are paying way more than it should have been to begin with because a successful builder who has survived more than a few years ain't floating your project with his money for more than about 30-60 days.....if that builder is willing to wait until the project is complete and bought off on he knows the project is a sho nuff money maker.....

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I absolutely did. My dad helped 2 days with the conventional roof framing and setting of the long arse LVLs. I did the rough plumbing, pulled 90% of my wiring. Dug the footings, finished the slab, did the siding, nailed the shingles. Amazing what you can do with a decade of experience in doing room additions... and a lifetime of having a GC for a dad.

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It really ain't that hard to do...doing it and making a profit doing it is a whole nother can of worms. It is a HARD hustle and succesful builders have 2 things in common...they are extremely organized and cheap as hell...if they can save a dollar on a cabinet by knocking a baby out of a stroller that baby has had a baaaaddddd day....

Anyone who has spent time in the construction industry should have the skills and the contacts to build their own home. It was very common even 50 years ago. Doing it on a budget is where the devlish details lie...it can be done...I have done it and know many folks who have...but most people fall into the "its only $50 more...." trap and the first thing they know they are so far over budget it is amusing even to them. It is a HARD hustle to build houses at a profit....

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It really ain't that hard to do...

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Exactly. Why dude is pretending I didn't or couldn't is beyond me.

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It is a HARD hustle to build houses at a profit....

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My old man did this for a few years, long before i joined his labor force. He's infinitely more organized than myself, so I knew this wasn't for me if he hated all the cat herding involved.

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Not sure if this is even a thing anymore with the current generation buying houses

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Always be looking for better locations and opportunities.

I didn’t go over. I designed my house and didn’t have any change orders. Those are where a lot of your cost overruns are.

We've avoided every one of those overruns on our Barn build by not having any allowances.

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Re-doing our kitchen...yeah, I''ll put the Ferguson's kids through college.

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It's sad when people dont shop local. Ferguson is owned by London based company. At minimum try and keep your money in the country if not your own community.

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Ferguson will be the death of me.

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Pro tip...Build.com, which is owned by Ferguson, sells their liquidation pallets through Liquidation.com. I have a $6K bathtub and faucet set up for about $2K invested from buying auctions on there. Really I got it cheaper than that if you add the value of the other items that were in the auctions. It was two separate lots. One for the tub and one for the faucet. Each auction cost me $1K shipped. The tub is normally $3500 and the faucet is normally $2400 with the valve.

I have done this for my personal house and for flips and saved a lot of money on fixtures

ETA: Here is the tub

LINK

Nowadays, it seems like you better have about 25% contingency.

I don’t remember going I’ve too bad. A few K here and there.

What got me was the pool, electronic gate, fencing, home generator, outdoor kitchen and extra drainage. Thought I have years to get that stuff done but wife wanted it all done before we moved in or not long after.